The Doheny UPDATE
December 2019 If URL links do not work when clicked on, copy and paste them into your browser.
UPDATE Editor: Ed Neely Distribution: Mike Ahumada
Best wishes to you all for the December Holidays and a very Happy New Year!
Drysdale Studios DANA POINT BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS! The annual Parade of Lights in Dana Point Harbor will be December 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th starting at 7:30 PM each night. Parking in the harbor area can always be a problem for this event, so why not park at Doheny and take the free Dana Point Trolley to great viewing sites for the parade? Even better, Santa, Mrs. Clause, the elves and Santa’s way-cool woody will be at Doheny from 4:30 to 7 PM on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6th & 7th to meet with the kids and hear their holiday wishes. Doheny parking fees will still apply; $3/hour with a minimum of 2 hours.
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES: Great Opportunities (GO) is a non-profit San Juan Capistrano program for underserved and at-risk children, 4 to 18 years old, designed to expose them to the opportunities of outdoor recreation. In late October, Doheny State Beach rangers, park staff, and DSBIA volunteers assisted GO in providing a two-night camping trip for the kids and their families. Following are clips from a thank you letter. GO…”would like to thank all of you that made this weekend possible…. We believe that opening this door of opportunity to build a better community was a fun and successful event. (Our team) was able to share (our) respect of such a cool public treasure with the community we work so hard to improve. I’m happy and confident in what they learned from all the resources available to us…”
WHAT’S FEATURED IN THE VISITOR CENTER STORE THIS MONTH Special Holiday Shopping at Doheny
Saturday, December 21st / 10 AM to 8 PM A Holiday Boutique with Special Items, Light Refreshments and Extended Hours 30% Discount on Selected Items
The Visitor Center is Open Every Day from 10 AM to 4 PM Drop by the Visitor Center and look over the great selection of tees and sweatshirts, hats and beanies, a variety of toys, stuffed animals, books and Doheny memorabilia (mugs, book marks, key chains, holiday ornaments and much more. DSBIA members get a 20% discount. Or, consider giving DSBIA memberships to friends and/or family members. This gift includes our fall Wildlife Cruise, spring Bar-B-Q, 20% discount in the Visitor Center store, 50% discount on Dana Wharf Sports Fishing and Whale Watching excursions, and the monthly Doheny UPDATE newsletter. For a DSBIA membership form, visit https://www.dohenystatebeach.org/join-us/
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS PARTNERS DSBIA and Doheny State Beach thank the following for their generous donations in November. Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Volcom, Eco Warriors & The Outlets at San Clemente
NATURE NOTES
NOW AVAILABLE IN THE VISITOR CENTER: Our free 2020 Tide Books are now in the Visitor Center. Grab a few for stocking stuffers. Always a handy gift for surfers, fisher folks, snorkelers, tide pool explorers and grunion hunters; just to name a few.
ABALONE: The L.A. Times recently had a great article on abalone and the attempts to repopulate them in the waters off the California coast. https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-abalone-species-recovery/
THAR SHE BLOWS! Aye, matie! Be keep’n a ready eye for sight’n one of them Pacific gray whales that be heading south for the lagoons of Baja. That gentle critter often swims near the shore and sends up a spout to greet ya. Remember if ya crew with Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association, ya get a 50% discount when ship’n out with Dana Wharf Sports Fishing and Whale Watching.
WHALE WATCHING? HOW ABOUT A WATCHING WHALE: Video taken on November 11th of a young gray whale visiting the surfers at Bone Yard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9T8fxy7PfQ
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, “POP”: December 12th is the birthdate for legendary Doheny waterman, Edward “Pop” Proctor. He first came to Doheny in 1937 at the age of 56. He would surf, dive for lobster and abalone, catch fish from his paddle board, become Doheny’s first lifeguard and live in the park in his panel truck, well into his 90s. He was the best surfer in the water, not because he was that good, but because he was the guy having the most fun. Celebrate Pop’s 138th birthday by raising a glass of Italian red wine, his favorite. https://www.dohenystatebeach.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pop-Proctor.pdf “HOLE IN THE FENCE” BEACH: A view across what would become Pacific Coast Highway to what would become Doheny’s South Day Use Area beach. Photo estimated to have been taken in the late 1920s or early 1930s.
LAST CALL FOR CANDIDATES: Nominations are now open for the DSBIA 2020 Board of Directors. A candidate must be a DSBIA member in good standing. Names and contact information and signatures of 5 nomination supporters who are also DSBIA members in good standing are required [DSBIA By- Laws, Article VI, Section 1(b)]. The nomination form is available on the DSBIA website at https://www.dohenystatebeach.org/election/ . Forms are due into Executive Coordinator Kathy Wade by December 21st, 2019. Email to [email protected], US Mail (address on the nomination form) or hand delivered to the Doheny State Beach Visitor Center. The election will be held at the DSBIA Organizational Meeting on Thursday, January 16th, 7 PM at the DoubleTree Hotel across PCH from the park.
WINTER SOLSTICE: Winter begins on Saturday, December 21st at 8:19 PM local time. In terms of daylight, this day is 4-hours and 19- minutes shorter than the first day of summer last June. In most locations north of the equator, the shortest day of the year is around this date. Our shortest day of the year will be on December 22nd. It will be less than1 second shorter than the day before.
SUNRISE / SUNSET: Dec. 1st: Sunrise @ 6:32 AM / Sunset @ 4:42 PM = 10 hrs, 09 mins, 35 secs. of sun. Dec. 21: Sunrise @ 6:46 AM / Sunset @ 4:46 PM = 9 hrs, 59 mins, 50 secs. of sun. Dec. 31st: Sunrise@ 6:50 AM / Sunset @ 4:42 PM = 10 hrs. 02 mins, 05 secs. of sun. Lost minutes of sun this month from Dec. 1st to Dec. 21st: 0 hrs, 05 mins, 45 secs. Gained minutes of sun this month from Dec. 21st to Dec. 31st: 0 hrs, 2 mins, 15 secs.
December Moon Phases First Quarter: Dec. 4th. Full Moon: Dec. 11th. Last Quarter: Dec. 18th. New (No) Moon: Dec. 25th.
DSBIA SCHOARSHIPS FOR LOCAL 2020 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES: DSBIA offers scholarships between $500 and $1,000 to graduating seniors from Dana Hills High School and San Juan Hills High School looking toward an academic program focused on environmental studies and a career that will potentially benefit California State Parks and Doheny State Beach. Students interested in applying for the scholarships should consult with their school’s academic councilors.
ASK OUR SENIOR PARK AIDE: Our Doheny Senior Park Aide fields many questions about day use and camping in our park. Have a question? Email it to [email protected] and you will receive an email reply.
I am looking at your campground website and have the following questions. Garry 1) Can I use a generator? Yes, generators are allowed from 10 AM to 8 PM every day. 2) Can I put a 24-ft. travel trailer on a 20-ft. pad? No, you will not be able to fit in the spot as the tongue of the trailer will stick out into the road. This would result in you receiving a citation. There are multiple sites that will accommodate up to a 40.5- foot motor home. Site 38 is our largest and will accommodate a 65-ft. RV.
How do you reserve RV camping spots at Doheny State Beach? Remhmen On-line: Use ReserveCalifornia for all California State Park reservations. https://www.reservecalifornia.com/CaliforniaWebHome/ By Phone: Call TEL: 1-800-444-PARK (7275) International Callers: 1-916-638-5883. TDD: 1-800-274-7275 To Cancel Confirmed Reservations: Call Customer Account Services between 8 AM and 5 PM Pacific Time, 7-days a week at TEL: 1-800-695-2269. Camping Without a Reservation: Most California State Parks, including Doheny, operate on a “first come, first served” basis for campsites not reserved. TEL: 1-916-653-6995.
FRIDAY FISH FEEDING: Our Visitor Center Aquarist Bill Turner does a public feeding of the fish in the aquariums each Friday at 2 PM. Come watch out hungry critters dine and hear Bill discuss our fishy guests.
BE A VOLUNTEER IN THE VISITOR CENTER: Volunteers are needed and welcomed to help in the Visitor Center. Duties include sharing information about our displays, and selling merchandise in the Visitor Center Store. Training and support are provided by Park Interpreter Vicki Wiker, DSBIA Executive Director Kathy Wade and fellow docents, so…
HOW ABOUT YOU? We ask you to commit to one 6-hour shift or two Come on, it’s fun! 3-hour split shifts a month. Volunteers who donate 100 hours a year (average of 1 ½ shifts a month) earn a State Park Day Use Pass for all state parks between San Onofre and Huntington State Beach; 200-hours a year (average of about 3-shifts a month) earn a State Park Day Use Pass for all California State Parks. Send your inquiry to DSBIA Executive Director Kathy Wade at [email protected].
NEED ANOTHER TAX DEDUCTION? DSBIA is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization by the Internal Revenue code. Donations are tax deductible.
DONATE TO DSBIA VIA AMAZON: Here’s a donation that costs you nothing, zero, nada. Place your Amazon order using the Amazon Smile program and Amazon will donate to DSBIA. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/95-3736287
20% PARK STORE DISCOUNT: Don’t forget DSBIA members get a 20% discount on items sold in the Visitor Center.
50% WHALE WATCHING & SPORTS FISHING DISCOUNTS: Our friends at Dana Wharf Sports Fishing and Whale Watching in Dana Point Harbor offer a 50% discount to DSBIA members on whale watching or sports fishing excursions. When signing up for an adventure, just mention you are a DSBIA member. Dana Wharf Sports Fishing and Whale Watching is at 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, (949) 496-5794.
NOT A DSBIA MEMBER YET? Join in supporting the mission of Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association to provide activities, materials and financial support for the purpose of educating the public about the natural and cultural importance of Doheny State Beach. Here’s a printable membership form. https://www.dohenystatebeach.org/join-us/
CALENDAR Not all events are DSBIA sponsored Such a bummer!! No Sabroso Music, Tacos and Beer Festival in 2020
DEC. 1, SATURDAY, 9:30 AM, DOHENY LONGBOARD SURFING ASSOCIATION: Meeting at Doheny in front of Café del Sol, Doheny main beach. Prospective new members welcomed.
DEC. 21, SATURDAY, 10 AM TO 8 PM, HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE SHOPPING IN THE VISITOR CENTER: Special items on sale, light refreshments from 4 to 8 PM.
THERE WILL BE NO DSBIA BOARD MEETING IN DECEMBER.
JAN. 4, SATURDAY, 9:30 AM, DOHENY LONGBOARD SURFING ASSOCIATION: Meeting this month at Doheny in front of Café del Sol, Doheny main beach.
JAN. 16, THURSDAY, 7 PM, DSBIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING: DoubleTree Hotel across PCH from the park. Please RSVP to [email protected] if you are planning to attend.
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
VISIT OUR WEB SITE: http://www.dohenystatebeach.org
DOHENY, A CALIFORNIA GOLDEN STATE PARK: https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser- archives/2007/05/10/doheny-state-beach-californias-golden-parks-152/
DSBIA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dohenystatebeach/
DSBIA SUPPORTERS: http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/shortcodes/
DOHENY SURF CAMERA: http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/doheny-southern-california_4848/
DOHENY SURF FORECAST: http://magicseaweed.com/Doheny-State-Beach-Surf-Report/2588/
GOOGLE’S STREET VIEW STATE PARK TREKS: http://www.parks.ca.gov/whatsnew
VOLUNTEER AT DOHENY: http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/volunteer-at-doheny/
QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK? Please direct any questions, feedback or requests for removal from our mailing list to [email protected] .
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